New Goslings

[llboxley]

Hello! I am new here and was hoping for some advice.

On April 14th, I got 2 new baby goslings (one still had egg tooth). We have no idea what sex or breed they are but judging by their blue eyes and white body, I am guessing them to be Embden Geese. I have read that the coloring on their back as babies can suggest male or female. If that is accurate (which I do not know), then we may have one female (Jersey) and one male (Georgie). Last week, we started introducing them to the outside. When this happened, Jersey started really plucking at Georgie's tail feathers and breaking the blood feathers. It was pretty sore and I did take Georgie to the Vet to help in getting it cleaned up. Since then, we have kept them separate so Georgie has a chance to heal. Last night, it was really nice out and so I took both of them out into the yard so we could go on a walk. Everything was going great and then Georgie started plucking Jersey's feathers and would eat them. Jersey is in with the much smaller ducks now and does not pluck them and there are no issues. It just seems to be between the geese. I read they were better in pairs or a group and that is why I got two but now I am just not sure what to do. They love to be together, they are just mean to one another. Any suggestions would help tremendously.

Thank you

 

[Golden Brahma 64]

Sounds like you have two ganders, a gander would not be attacking a goose. I know that for sure

 

[llboxley]

The pictures were just within a few hours timeframe. I'm not sure how to know the difference in the sex as I am a first timer with all of this, however if they are both ganders, will they ever get along?

 

[Golden Brahma 64]

That looks awful. Definitely two ganders. But they seem a bit young yet to be fighting with each other

 

[llboxley]

My Veterinarian said that although it looks bad, it is pretty superficial. We had to pluck a few of the broken blood feathers and do a really good scrub of the area, but he is healing nicely now. I kind of thought it was pretty young for them to be doing this as well. Our Veterinarian was wondering if maybe they were scuffling over food but they have plenty of that out. I think I read somewhere that using bitter apple spray may help. Do you know if that is a good idea? My fear is if I spray that on one of them then they won't want to preen themselves either so may work adversely?

 

[Golden Brahma 64]

The bitter apple spray should prevent them from pecking at each other but it also reduces over preening. It’s your decision. I would definitely use it if I were you, I wouldn’t want to go through that with them again. Damaged blood feathers and the bird could end up bleeding to death.

 

[llboxley]

Thank you so much!! That is exactly what I needed to know!

 

[Golden Brahma 64]

Did you ask the vet to sex them for you ? If you have two ganders I’d probably get two geese for them to prevent them from fighting when they’re sexually mature.

 

[llboxley]

My Vet said that she was not able to sex them unfortunately. She said she could clean up the wound and take care of any infection but sexing them is not something she is good at. The reason why I got these guys is because I have always wanted a duck and that day when I was at the feed store, little Georgie was getting picked on terribly by the others. My husband and I decided we would get him and then read that he needed a buddy so we grabbed the other most docile baby. Not very well thought out but sure want to do right by them and make sure they are healthy and happy. The feed store doesn't have any more geese and honestly, I am not sure if I would get a male or female from them. They couldn't even tell me what kind of geese these were.

I am sure I know they answer to this but want to check. If they are both males and still in the waterfowl category, do you think they will try mating with female ducks? I wouldn't think so but just want to learn as much as possible before we get to that point.

 

[Miss Lydia]

My gander mated with my Muscovy females with out any harm to them. What breed of ducks do you have size wise will make a difference. My girls are sturdy built to with stand a 12-15 lb Muscovy drake.

If they were just hrs old when you got them April that makes them right at a month old this isn't because they are both ganders, I have heard quite a bit about gosling chewing on each other and it being from boredom. Take them outside let them run around put Blue kote on the area that has been chewed so it is disguised hopefully that will keep this from continuing. Geese are intelligent and need stimulation so get them out to forage and run around.


Not saying they can still be ganders but this your seeing isn't because of that.
Also what are you feeding them? have you introduced grass or greens?